Two of the five states with new state quarters due for release in 2007 have finished their initial design homework.
In late September, Washington and Idaho both submitted five design suggestions apiece to the U.S. Mint for the Mint’s consideration.
“We eagerly anticipate receipt of the U.S. Mint’s graphic designs and look forward to moving one step closer to realizing Washington’s quarter,” said Mike Gregoire, chairman of Washington’s State Quarter Advisory Commission.
In April 2006, SQAC will present up to five coin designs on the state quarter Web site www.governor.wa.gov/quarter, inviting Washington citizens to participate in a public opinion poll to assist SQAC in making its final recommendation to the governor.
For more information, contact Mark Gerth at (360) 586-8093 or quarter@arts.wa.gov.
Gov. Christine Gregoire and the SQAC have forwarded the following five designs to the U.S. Mint:
- A salmon, Mount Rainier and an apple within an outline of Washington State
- An apple within the outline of Washington State
- An outline of Washington State with Mount Rainier centered
- A salmon breaching the water with Mount Rainier as a backdrop
- A Northwest Native American stylized orca
It was also suggested that the wording, “The Evergreen State,” be included in some of the U.S. Mint graphic designs.
Mint designers will next create pictorial renderings of the narrative submissions and send these back to SQAC in December 2005 for review.
As for Idaho, Gov. Dirk Kempthorne today submitted five design concepts to the U.S. Mint for the Idaho quarter.
Presented in narrative form, as required by the Mint, the five designs, will be illustrated by Mint artists and returned to Gov. Kempthorne in December for his review. The governor’s selection will be subject to the approval of the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
In July, Governor Kempthorne asked Idaho residents to come up with ideas for the quarter. More than 1,200 suggestions were submitted.
“These fabulous submissions came from all corners of our state and truly illustrate Idahoans’ great pride,” Kempthorne said. “I knew the ideas would be creative, beautiful, and bold – just like Idaho. Now, the U.S. Mint’s artists will breathe life into the wonderful words Idahoans have used to describe their state. While I’m certain the final decision will be a difficult one, I know the ultimate product will be a unique Idaho quarter, leaving a positive and lasting impression of our state.”
The Idaho Commission on the Arts and an expert panel sorted through the 1,200 recommendations and submitted 10 concepts to the governor, who then selected the five narratives forwarded to the U.S. Mint.
The five Idaho quarter design concepts include: the Peregrine Falcon; the Sawtooth Mountains; Farmland Tapestry; State Song (“Here We Have Idaho”); and Bold and Distinctive, which features the word, Idaho, written prominently across the center of the coin.
The designs are representative of Idaho’s agricultural heritage, its rugged mountain landscapes, its 485,000-acre Birds of Prey National Conservation Area and World Center for Birds of Prey, and its distinctive state song.
